"Emergency Room Visits for Self-Harm and Suicide Attempts Among Minors Increased by 38% Over 5 Years"

Over the past five years, the number of minors visiting emergency rooms due to self-harm and suicide attempts has increased by 38.4%.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to Choi Boyoon, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee from the People Power Party, the number of cases where minors self-harmed or attempted suicide and visited emergency rooms rose significantly from 4,620 in 2019 to 6,395 last year.

Specifically, self-harm and suicide attempts among minors, including children and adolescents, were 4,620 cases in 2019, 4,473 in 2020, 5,486 in 2021, and 5,894 in 2022, surpassing 6,000 cases last year.

In particular, among the cases of self-harm and suicide attempts leading to emergency room visits, the proportion of female children and adolescents was higher than that of males every year. In 2019, out of 4,620 cases, female children and adolescents accounted for 3,218 cases, which was 2.3 times the 1,402 cases of males.

As of last year, out of 6,395 cases, 4,958 were female children and adolescents, which is 3.5 times the 1,437 cases of males.

During this period, cases of male children and adolescents visiting emergency rooms due to self-harm and suicide attempts increased by 2.5%, from 1,402 to 1,437, while female cases rose by 54.1%, from 3,218 to 4,958.

Representative Choi stated, "The increasing number of emergency room visits due to self-harm and suicide attempts among children and adolescents every year is a very serious issue," adding, "Especially since the proportion of female children and adolescents is much higher, careful and tailored support and attention are necessary."